Affordable housing is needed

This letter is in response to Bob Peskay and Shannon Hanley (Sept. 14) regarding affordable housing in Moorpark. I did not see the letter to which they refer from Chad Goodwin (Aug. 31).

I was fortunate to have purchased my house in Moorpark 19 years ago. In the early 1990s a debate arose regarding construction of the townhouse developments in Mountain Meadows. Many of my neighbors pleaded before the City Council not to permit construction of the townhouses because these developments would attract undesirable people into the neighborhood. Such undesirables included single people, unmarried couples and, perhaps worst of all, childless couples. One neighbor raised the concern that people who live in the townhouses may park in front of her house.

Inability to afford housing is not a problem just for young people. I know people of my age who recently moved to California and cannot afford to purchase a home. Many of us who purchased our homes so many years ago may not be able to afford to purchase our homes today.

As Mr. Peskay clearly states, the people who will purchase these houses must have good paying jobs and good credit ratings in order to qualify for one of these first-time buyer loans. It is not a gift. It is a loan that must be repaid and is subject to default, just like any other loan. These loans have many restrictions for the buyer.

Those of us who were fortunate to have been able to purchase our houses many years ago need to be cognizant that the next generation defines the future of our economy and lifestyle. If we force our intelligent and industrious younger people such as Mr. Peskay and Ms. Hanley to relocate their bodies and brains to more affordable locations, we will be all the poorer for the decision. We need to look at the long-term consequences of our actions. These are the people who will bring business, economic growth and vitality to Moorpark.

Let's not replay the affordable housing movie that split the community so many years ago. Hopefully, as the city has grown up, so have its residents. Michael Wakshull Moorpark